He was a 1958 graduate of Winchester High School, attended International Business College of Fort Wayne and graduated from Marion College of Marion, Indiana. He served in the United States Army Reserve. He retired from General Motors of Marion as a quality engineer in 2000 He had also operated Manning Accounting Service for 42 years. He served as Liberty Township trustee for two terms.

He was a member of LaFontaine Christian Church and served as an elder, trustee and financial secretary of the church. He had served as operations director of Emergency Management Agency, board member and treasurer of Life Center in Wabash, board member and volunteer of Habitat for Humanity, board member and treasurer of Troyer Memorial Library, treasurer for LaFontaine Cub Scout Troop and board member and treasurer of Rainbow Christian Camp. He was a 50-year member of LaFontaine Masonic Lodge 295.

He was born in Winchester on March 12, 1940, to Paul F. and Sylvia G. Clark Manning. He married Joan E. Hendrickson on July 7, 1963, she survives.

A service will be held at on Friday, March 8, 2013, at 10 a.m. at LaFontaine Christian Church, 202 Bruner Pike, LaFontaine. Rev. Rick Smalling will officiate. Calling is on Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the church. Burial will be at LaFontaine IOOF Cemetery in LaFontaine.

Memorial gifts may be made to LaFontaine Christian Church Building Fund, Casa de niños or the organization of the donor's choice in care of McDonald Funeral Home, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 S. Main St., LaFontaine, IN 46940.